Harness guide



June 6, 1950 v G: LAKE ETAL 2,510,404

HARNESS GUIDE Filed Jan. 15, 1948 INVENTOR.

FRANCIS GERARD LAKE EVERETT H. ASHTON [IE l BY Mad/7. %m

ATTORNEY Patented June 6, 1950 Francis Gerard- Lake,

New York, N Y., and Ever= ett Hi Ashton, Jersey City, The M. W. Kellogg Company,

J assignors to- Jersey Gity, N; J-.-,

a corporatio o D l e Ai li re't qnfianflary .948; Seri l No; 21445 2 Claims.

present invention relates to an improvement in harness mechanisms for l'oo'nis and more particularly to means for guiding the harnessesintheir shedding movements;

A shedding'deyiceof the type to which the present invention applies commonly includes a pl nrality of harnesses carryingiheddle wires with eyes through which thewerp threads pass. The harnesses ares'uspehdejd from the loom arehby a harness-head-motion and are depressed by cams which are mounted on the cam shaft or on an auxiliary shaft driven'frorn saidcamshaft. The" cams operate on follower lever treadl'es which throuehstra s or linksmove the harnesses downward. The head motion brings the harnesses t their original position. The outer-1 ends of the treadles to which the lower sections of the harness train-es are cohne'cted by links or straps travel in areuatepathsandthis irhparts tci'saidf lower'harness-f-ra'me sections a tendency to deviate from straight vertical reciprocating courses. No such problem is present in; connection-with the upper sections of the harness frames; since the forces of the head moon* tending t return said harness frames upwardly act invertical directions in the planes of their corresponding harnesses.

As a result of the deviating tendencies imparted to'the-lower sections of'the'harnessframes" during loom operations; especially at-high speeds,- the harness frames are caused to sway and vibrate as they are reciprocated', this causes abra sion and wear on the warpyarn threads at the sections --thereof where they pass through the heddle eyes and slapping of the frames together and againstthe handrail-or reedcap. This slapping action creates undesirable noises, wear on the frames; and increased vibrations of the harnes rmmes- Oneobject: oi the" present invention is to provide a new and improved harness mechanism with" simplified but nevertheless effective means which guides the harness frames for reciprocation in vertical parallel planes, while permitting said frames to be spread apart at their uppersections for repair to the heddle wires or eyes, for threading of.- the warpya-rnor for any other reason."

carrying out certain features' of the present invention, where each harness frame is most strongly" subjected to the deviatingxinfluence of its associated treadle, namely, at its lower secstion, said frame is guided for vertical planar movement, whil'e 'the upper section of said harness? frame is riot guided-'- but is maintained hotpresent. Therefore, siri'c ag'ainst'deviation from planar verticalmovement by the restricting or theor'dinar y harness head motion. In the region or thj lornwere the loii'lei sectionsof the airness i" I operate, the resenee or loom parts wodld Pl vent access to the harness frat-hes even the guidemeansf r said lower frame seeder-1s were e= access tothe lower harnessframese'ctiohs ca et be easily gained anyway, there no disa vantage from: the standpoint of aecessi'hility locating the guide means of the present invention the region of the loom where the lower sections of'the harness frames operate;-

arrangement leaves the u pe sieetiehs of the harness reams tree to be spread apart for purp seser accessibility.- The absence of guide means for the upper sections of the harness frame is artieuiariy de's'irahl', since the reg-ion of the loom where thesesectior iso erate" is not cluttered with loom parts and it is advantageous tornairitairr said region tree toafford access to the harnessframes -at said region.-

Various other objects=,;features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following particular description and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in whichv Fig.- 1- is afront elev at'ion of emhodiment of the present invention and shows a fragment of a-harness; al ooniside and one (it the guidemeans forty-1e lower section of the harness Fig; 2 is transverse section of the harness and showssaid harness in connection with one of theguide members andw-iththemeans for operating said harnessfor shedding action;

Fig. 3' is a top plan view of amultiple guideway member fora number of harness frames and shows two rol l'ers on one side of a pair of hare masses in position in respective guideways;.' and:-

Fig; 4- is a View partly ir=1-- f1' ontelevation and partly" in vertical section of the giiide'way' and roller .combin'atiorrof Fig; 3-.

Referring to thedraWihgS; the 100m comprises loomsides t0, shown: of the type described claimed in .copending application erial= No. 691123 7 -fi1'ed.- August H7, 19445.: The'lQomsides comprise a pair of vertical parallel frame webs- H and [2'' interconnected-by suitable braceseand cross-spi'eces- (not shown) and" supporting at vthe top a side arm of the loom arch l3:-

A lthough only the left loomsijde withassociated guide for one-side of each harness is shown' in the drawings, it must :be' understood that the right loomsidewith associated guide tor-thezother side or the-harness isaofi similar construction.

Between the two loomsides I is a series of parallel vertical harnesses l6, only two being shown. Each of the harnesses is shown comprising a frame having an upper wooden cross frame piece l8 and a lower wooden frame piece interconnected by metal side frame pieces 2|, each in the form of a U-shaped bracket with offset ends 22 fitting into respective recesses 23 in said cross pieces l8 and 20. The side frame pieces 2| are secured to the cross frame pieces I8 and 20 by suitable fastening means such as screws or the like (not shown) Extending across the side frame pieces 2! and secured thereto by welding, or the like, are the heddle bars 24 desirably made of metal. Heddle wires 25 extend vertically between the heddle bars 24 and are provided at their ends with horizontally aligned loops 25 through which said bars extend. Intermediate their ends, the heddle wires 25 are provided with respective eyes 2'1 through which the warp threads pass to form the shed in the usual manner upon vertical reciprocation of the harnesses.

Each harness 16 is operated for vertical reciprocation. To that end, there is provided a series of treadles 3B pivotally supported at 3| on a common aXis and arranged into two groups for angular reciprocation in opposite directions. The treadles are angularly depressed by cams 32 engaging said treadles and arranged into two opposite groups to operate the treadles as two oppositely moving assemblages.

A pair of connections 34 between the lower section of each harness 16 and the free ends of a corresponding pair of similar treadles 35 serve to transmit the depressing movement of said treadles to said harness and thereby cause said harness to move downwardly. Each of these connections is shown comprising an eye screw 35 threaded into the lower cross frame piece 20, a link 36 hooked at one end to said eye screw, a turnbuckle 31 hooked at one end by the other end of said link, and a link 38 hooked at its upper end to the other end of said turnbuckle and hooked at its lower end to a pin 40 on a treadle 30.

The cam and treadle arrangement described serves to depress the harness [6. The head motion connected to the upper section of the harness serves to return the harness upward. This head motion may be of any well known type and is shown comprising sheave and strap connections each including an eye screw threaded into the upper cross frame piece [8, a strap 36 with a tie 41 at one end hooked into said eye screw and a drive sheave 48 over which said strap passes and to which a similar tie at the other end of said strap is fastened. The sheave 48 is secured to a shaft 50 which may be spring-pressed or otherwise forced to urge said shaft in a direction to wind the strap on said sheave and thereby to lift the harness when said harness has reached the end of its downward stroke and has therefore been released from the depressing influence of the cam and treadle arrangement. The head motion forms no part of the present invention and is therefore shown in a simplified form merely for purposes of illustration. The head motion may be of any suitable construction well known in the art.

The sheave and strap harness return mechanism may be of the type to effect upward return movement of the one harness in response to the downward cam actuated movement of another harness. This may be effected for example, by

mounting two drive sheaves on the shaft 50 for operation in unison and by having the straps of the head motions for two harnesses wound in opposite directions on said sheaves, respectively, and secured thereto at one end. The shaft 50 in this arrangement is made to rotate by the downward cam actuated movement of one harness causing thereby the upward return movement of the other harness.

The lower section of the harness 16 tends to deviate or sway as a result of the arcuate movement of the lower ends of the connections 34 where said connections are secured to the treadles 30. The head return motion of the harness [6 has no deviating or swaying influence on the upper section of said harness, since the forces set up by said motion and imparted to said harness are in the plane of the harness and are so balanced that the resultants thereof act vertically.

. As an important feature of the present invention, the lower section of each harness I6 is guided for vertical straight line movement. The guide means for this purpose comprises guide members 55 on opposite sides of the harnesses 16. Each of the guide members 55 isattached to the inner side of the corresponding loomside I0 and more specifically to the inner face of the inner frame web l2 by fastening members 56. Each of these fastening members 56 is shown comprising a bolt with a head 51 fitted in a counterbor-e of the guide member and provided with a socket for receiving a socket wrench. This bolt is threaded into a nut 58 welded to or otherwise rigid with the outer face of the inner frame web The section of the loomside frame web I2 to which the guide member 55 is secured is desirably reinforced and finished with a machined or finished backing plate 59 for said guide member.

The guide member 55 is provided with a plurality of vertical guideways 60 for a corresponding number of harnesses, six being shown. These guideways are shown in the form of channels, each adapted to receive with a snug rolling fit a roller 6| carried by a side of the harness 16 at its lower section. Each of these rollers is supported on a bolt 62 affixed to an angular bracket 63, one leg of which is secured to the lower offset 22 of the side frame piece 2| desirably by spot welding, the other leg carrying said bolt. The bolt 52 has a bevelled head 64 fitted in the countersink of the guide roller 6| and a nut 65. A washer 66 separates 'the roller from the bracket 53.

With the arrangement as shown, even though the lower sections of the harnesses l6 alone are guided, these harnesses will travel vertically in parallel planes without undue vibration or swaying. At the same time, the upper and even the middle heddle eye sections of the harnesses are accessible for yarn threading or other purposes and may be spread apart to render said sections more accessible without demounting the guide arrangement at the lower sections of said harnesses.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to a specific embodiment, it is to be understood that it is not to be limited thereto but is to be construed broadly and restricted solely by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a loom having spaced loomsides, a harness between said loomsides including a frame member, a treadle motion connected to the bottom of said frame member adapted to pull said frame member downward into a shed forming position, a head motion connected to the top of said frame member adapted to pull said frame member upward into a second shed forming position, said head motion adapted to exert its pulling effect vertically and without substantial lateral components, said treadle motion adapted to exert its pulling effect vertically but with substantial lateral components, a guide member at each side respectively of said frame member and carried by said loomsides, and a guided member carried at each side respectively of said frame member adjacent the bottom thereof, said guide members and said guided members cooperating to restrain the bottom of said frame member against lateral movement while imposing no restraint on the lateral movement of the top of said frame member.

2. In a loom having spaced loomsides, a harness between said loomsides including a frame member, a treadle motion connected to the bottom of said frame member adapted to pull said frame member downward into a shed forming position,

a head motion connected to the top of said frame member adapted to pull said frame member upward into a second shed forming position, said head motion adapted to exert its pulling effect vertically and without substantial lateral com- 2 ponents, said treadle motion adapted to exert its pulling effect vertically but with substantial lateral components, a guide member at each side respectively of said frame member and attached to said loomsides, each of said guide members having a vertical guiding groove, and a guided member attached to each side respectively of said frame member adjacent the bottom thereof, each of said guided members adapted to move in the groove of the guide member at its respective loomside to restrain the bottom of said frame member against lateral movement while imposing no restraint on the lateral movement of the top of said frame member, each of said guided members including a roller adapted to contact the side of the groove of its respective guide member, and mounted for rotation on an axis member extending from said frame member whereby said frame member may be swung at will about said rollers.

FRANCIS GERARD LAKE.

EVERETT H. ASHTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 639,626 Steere Dec. 19, 1899 1,317,737 Speiser Oct. 7, 1919 1,684,789 Bilhartz Sept. 18, 1928 2,131,679 Ulrich Sept. 27, 1938 2,263,678 Cosman Nov. 25, 1941 2,408,645 Hunt Oct. 1, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,073 Great Britain of 1865 2,544 Great Britain of 1858 11,756 Great Britain of 1911 125,181 Switzerland Apr. 2, 1928 198,674 Switzerland Oct. 1, 1938 505,161 Great Britain May 5, 1939 

